A large section of Mariejois had been reduced to rubble. Amid the crumbling ruins, a colossal nine-tailed beast rampaged violently. Ancient structures that had stood for over 800 years crumbled like paper in its wake.

"Run for your lives!"

"What is that thing?!"

The Celestial Dragons screamed in panic as their guards broke formation, chaos erupting across the Holy Land.

The sheer size and presence of the Nine-Tails drew every eye. So much so that no one even noticed Kaido of the Beasts and Vane's arrival.

Mariejois, the headquarters of the World Government, was thrown into complete disarray. Kong—the Supreme Commander of all military forces—was roused from his quarters by the deafening explosions and the uproar outside. For a brief moment, he was disoriented.

After being briefed by his subordinates, Kong's expression shifted dramatically.

"A monster? What the hell's going on?"

"A slave revolt?"

Not only had the Nine-Tails appeared, but thousands of slaves had chosen this moment to rise up. Mariejois housed nearly 10,000 slaves belonging to the Celestial Dragons—and now, they had broken free.

They must have escaped during the monster's rampage.

A slave revolt was already a terrifying threat.

Just as Kong was struggling to make sense of the situation, another marine burst into the room, breathless and pale.

"Commander Kong! Surveillance confirms the presence of the Fire Sword God and Kaido of the Beasts! Two Emperors have arrived in Mariejois!"

"What?Vane and Kaido? Impossible!"

Kong's face turned ashen. Upon hearing those names, a rare emotion seized him—fear. True fear. The kind only felt when one senses an unstoppable disaster barreling down upon them. Kaido and Vane, both Pirate Emperors… together?

It defied all logic.

"They've joined forces..."

That was the only explanation. Vane—the pirate who had exploded onto the world stage—had grown at a pace no one believed possible. In just three months, his power and influence had risen to a level that shook the foundations of the New World.

"This is an absolute catastrophe…"

Kong could already picture the scale of destruction they would bring. He reached for the den den mushi and dialed the Navy Headquarters.

Burururu... click!

"This is Navy HQ!"

In the Admiral's office, Sengoku had yet to sleep. Mountains of paperwork from the previous day still surrounded him. Only he and Tsuru remained inside. Sengoku had been battling insomnia lately—especially since there had been no news of Gion. Tsuru's scouts had come up empty. And now, with no word from Vane or the missing Vice Admiral, the anxiety gnawed at him.

"Sengoku!" Kong's voice roared through the den den mushi. "This is Kong. I'm ordering a full naval mobilization! Vane and Kaido are launching an assault on Mariejois! I repeat: full deployment!"

Kong's voice thundered with authority, even at nearly a hundred years old.

"What?!"

"I understand!"

Sengoku's face darkened in an instant. No further explanation was needed.

He sat up straight. The name Rhett Vane jolted him wide awake.

"Tsuru... This is serious."

After ending the call, Sengoku's expression turned grim.

The last time Vane had teamed up with Shiki, the Golden Lion, Sengoku had feared exactly this. And now, rumors indicated that the Golden Emperor, Gild Tesoro, was growing increasingly rebellious toward the World Government. Not long ago, Vane had visited the Golden City. Now he was standing shoulder-to-shoulder with Kaido?

The implications were grave.

Sengoku didn't waste another second. He triggered the headquarters' highest-level alarm. It was the same alarm used during the Golden Lion's invasion—this time, for something even worse.

In under three minutes, the Navy would be fully mobilized, preparing to march toward the Red Line and confront the enemy on the summit of Mariejois.

Two Pirate Emperors were invading.

Kaido—branded the strongest creature alive across land, sea, and air. Known for seeking death and evading capture again and again.

And Vane—Rhett Vane, whose provocations had pushed both the Navy and the World Government to the brink again and again… yet always evaded consequence.

The danger was unimaginable.

Mariejois was now fully engulfed in the uprising. Tens of thousands of slaves—among them giants, fishmen, and former pirates—had snapped. After years of torment, fear had twisted into madness. Explosive collars were shattered, and so too were any chains of restraint.

Long-suppressed savagery exploded into action.

The imperial guards of Mariejois were utterly incapable of suppressing the wave of chaos.

Back in the command center, after hanging up the call with Sengoku, Kong ripped off his cloak. He wore only a battle vest underneath—revealing a mountain of muscles that looked as powerful as Garp himself.

He stepped forward, his eyes locking onto the enormous form of the Nine-Tails.

This monster was no ordinary creature. It radiated ferocity and raw power.

And Vane and Kaido had yet to even make their move.

Kong's expression hardened.

He would stop this beast first.

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